Only the Third Time in Franchise History with Three All-Stars
By: Jameelah Johnson
What do the years 2014, 2017, and 2023 all have in common? They’re the years the Atlanta Dream has had three players make the All-Star team. On Tuesday, July 11, it was announced that Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard would be joining her teammates Allisha Gray and Cheyenne Parker as a 2023 AT&T WNBA All-Star.
All three Dream players will be on Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson’s Team Wilson. Howard steps in as an injury replacement for the Washington Mystics’ Elena Delle Donne.
“We’ve been saying all year that we have three All-Stars,” said Head Coach Tanisha Wright. “And as it’s no surprise to us, we’re just happy for her (Howard) because we feel like she should be put in that spotlight.”
Naz Hillmon reiterated how the team recognized their big three before Wednesday’s matchup versus the Seattle Storm.
Three videos for each All-Star selection, one for Gray featuring her parents, one for Howard featuring her teammate Hillmon, and one for Parker featuring her fiancé and daughter, debuted for the team’s announcements.
“Family. We’re a super close-knit team. We really enjoy each other. You can see us laughing and joking on and off the court,” Hillmon emphasized how the team’s camaraderie helps translate into wins and accolades for Atlanta. “But it just goes to show that we appreciate each other, what we bring to the table on and off the court.”
Parker noted how including her fiancé and daughter in the announcement video made her emotional, as well as the support of her team, “Man, I just love my teammates. They rock with me; they’ve always had my back. They believe in me. And they’ve seen the grind, too. They’ve seen the hustle. They’ve seen the hard work, the hours of preparation. And so, to celebrate that with them…special.”
This is Howard’s second nod as an All-Star, her first coming her rookie year in the league last year. As she reflected on her first All-Star appearance, her advice to her first-time teammates would be to “Just have fun. This is a time for everyone to come together and not actually have to stress about a game. So, just go out there and have fun. Put on a show for the fans.”
When talking about each other, one thing is clear among this Dream team, it’s more than the game of basketball for them.
Howard has been named the godmother of Parker’s baby girl Naomi, and she lights up when telling an anecdote of how Naomi has grown accustomed to her. “She has this mean-mug. And I looked over and as soon as she saw me, she started cheesing. I feel like now, she’s starting to realize, like as she gets older, I’m her safe-space I guess you can say. Like, sometimes she chooses me over CP.”
“Rhy is somebody that always has my back, knows what to say to me to help me calm down,” said Gray about being visibly frustrated as Wednesday’s game against the Storm grew more physical. “So I really appreciate her for that.”
Howard reflected on how her relationship with her teammates has grown over time, “It’s just great to have that. To just know that we’re more of a family, even off the court.”